| 0.0 : Right then, hello all for our coverage of Match 31 of the 2020 Indian T20 League. Plenty of entertainment in store. Not just because it is Sharjah but because we also have dynamite-teams, Punjab and Bangalore, taking on each other there. Yes, the first round goes to Punjab and a thumping win it was. But given the form Kohli's men are in, we might expect a reversal of that this time. Will we though? Stay tuned to find out... |
| Chris Gayle, the Universe Boss, is up for a chat. Says that he is looking forward to play today. Today is the day, let's see what happens, he says. Adds that it is disappointing to come and just sit and not play. The Universe Boss though states that everyone wants to see where he is. Says that there is no pressure on him and adds that fans will be happy to see him. Just another day for Chris Gayle to go out and enjoy himself, he finishes off by saying. |
| Pitch Report - Murali Kartik is in the middle along with Kevin Pietersen for the Pitch Report. KP says that this is a really good wicket. Will be more quicker than last night. States that wickets overall have slowed down but this one may be quick still. Pietersen says that the batsmen have understood how bowlers are bowling and will fine-tune their plans accordingly. Pietersen sticks to batting first for the captain winning the toss. |
| Toss - Bangalore elect to BAT! |
| Punjab skipper, KL Rahul admits they were looking to bat as well. Tells the wicket will remain same and hopes picking up early wickets can put pressure on them. Tells they have played good cricket but have been unable to win and are looking to try and execute to their best. Tells everyone knows it is a must win game for them and sees the positive as now they have no other option but try and do their best. Informs there are three changes as Mujeeb, Prabhsimran Singh and Mandeep miss out as the la |
| Bangalore (Unchanged Playing XI) - Devdutt Padikkal, Aaron Finch, Virat Kohli (C), AB de Villiers (WK), Washington Sundar, Shivam Dube, Chris Morris, Isuru Udana, Navdeep Saini, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal. |
| Virat Kohli, Bangalore's skipper, says that there was no dew in the last game in the second innings. States that playing 200 games for the same franchise is unbelieveable and is grateful to the franchise. Adds that there is a lot of emotion for the franchise. Says that when the team wins it looks good for the captain but credits various individuals for the same. Kohli says that the bowlers need to focus on their skill sets and not worry too much about dimensions. States that that is the mindset |
| All set for the action to get underway! The umpires make their way out to the middle but the Punjab players are already on the field, taking their respective positions. Aaron Finch and Devdutt Padikkal are the openers for Bangalore. Glenn Maxwell to start with the ball for Punjab from around the wicket. Here comes the first ball... |
| 0.1 : Glenn Maxwell to Aaron Finch, Finch is off the mark straightaway and so are Bangalore. Flatter on middle, he rocks back and taps this towards mid-wicket for a single. |
| 0.0 : Punjab (Playing XI) - Chris Gayle (IN PLACE OF MUJEEB UR RAHMAN), KL Rahul (WK/C), Mayank Agarwal, Deepak Hooda (IN PLACE OF MANDEEP SINGH), Nicholas Pooran, Glenn Maxwell, Chris Jordan, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Murugan Ashwin (IN PLACE OF PRABHSIMRAN SINGH). |
| 0.2 : Glenn Maxwell to Devdutt Padikkal, Floated around off, Padikkal comes on the front foot and defends this out. |
| 0.3 : Glenn Maxwell to Devdutt Padikkal, Around off, fuller, driven to cover-point. |
| 0.4 : Glenn Maxwell to Devdutt Padikkal, Padikkal is away as he clips the flatter ball to square leg and takes one. |
| 0.5 : Glenn Maxwell to Aaron Finch, On the shorter side on the pads, Finch chips down the track and looks to work that on the leg side. Misses, gets hit on the pads. It goes to the on side and he says no to Padikkal for a run. |
| 0.6 : Glenn Maxwell to Aaron Finch, SIX! Runs, maximum! Floated on the pads, Finch gets down and sweeps this over square leg for a maximum. A flat one it was. |
| Who will bowl from the other end? Mohammed Shami it is. |
| 1.1 : Mohammed Shami to Devdutt Padikkal, Back of a length on off, clipped to mid-wicket for a single. |
| 1.2 : Mohammed Shami to Aaron Finch, FOUR OFF BYES! Nips back a bit, does Finch and Rahul in. Back of a length around off, pitches and nips back in. Finch is down the track and looks to play at it but misses. So does Rahul, the keeper. It goes through to the fine leg fence for a boundary off extras. |
| 1.3 : Mohammed Shami to Aaron Finch, On middle, Finch flicks but finds Pooran at short mid-wicket. A slight fumble from the fielder there prompts Finch for a single. But the fielder recovers and throws the ball back to the striker's end. Finch though decided against the single and got back. |
| 1.4 : Mohammed Shami to Aaron Finch, Bouncer on top of the stumps, Finch ducks and lets it through. |
| 1.5 : Mohammed Shami to Aaron Finch, FOUR! Easy pickings for Finch. Fullish on off, he lofts this over the bowler's head for a boundary. |
| 1.6 : Mohammed Shami to Aaron Finch, A single to finish. On middle, Finch taps it to backward square leg and gets to the other end. |
| 2.1 : Arshdeep Singh to Aaron Finch, Edged but does not carry! Solid start for Arshdeep! Good length ball on off, Finch looks to defend but the ball shapes away from him. Finch looks to defend but gets a thick outside edge. Luckily Aaron looked to play it with soft hands. The ball goes to the right of first slip and guess who dives and saves runs for his side? It is the Universe Boss, Chris Gayle. Imagine the cheers if there were fans in the stadium. |
| 0.0 : Arshdeep Singh to bowl now. |
| 2.2 : Arshdeep Singh to Aaron Finch, Short ball, outside off, Finch watchfully lets it be. |
| 2.3 : Arshdeep Singh to Aaron Finch, A misfield and a single. Full and outside off, Finch drives this to Pooran at cover-point. A fumble by the left-hander and a single is stolen. |
| 2.4 : Arshdeep Singh to Devdutt Padikkal, Full on middle, Padikkal works this to deep square leg for a couple. |
| 2.5 : Arshdeep Singh to Devdutt Padikkal, FOUR! Over Gayle at short fine leg, he is tall but cannot get to it. Full on middle, Padikkal wrists this uppishly over Gayle at short fine leg and gets a boundary. The Universe Boss leapt to get a hold of it but it went over him. |
| 2.6 : Arshdeep Singh to Devdutt Padikkal, WIDE! Full and down the leg side, Padikkal lets it be. |
| Arshdeep Singh to Devdutt Padikkal, The wrists coming into play again, a single. Full on off and middle, wristed to deep square leg for one. |
| 3.1 : Mohammed Shami to Devdutt Padikkal, On off, fullish, tapped to short mid-wicket for a single. |
| 3.2 : Mohammed Shami to Aaron Finch, Finch comes down the track and helps the fuller ball to deep square leg for a single. |
| 3.3 : Mohammed Shami to Devdutt Padikkal, Short ball, pulled to square leg for a single. |
| 3.4 : Mohammed Shami to Aaron Finch, Another short ball, Finch came a couple of steps down, pulls to Bishnoi at fine leg and takes a single. |
| 3.5 : Mohammed Shami to Devdutt Padikkal, SIX! Padikkal gets a six there. Full on middle, Padikkal whips it away off his toes and used the pace. Gets it just over mid-wicket for a maximum. |
| 3.6 : Mohammed Shami to Devdutt Padikkal, Padikkal intentionally chips the full ball over the bowler's head, to the left of mid off, takes a single. |
| 4.1 : Arshdeep Singh to Devdutt Padikkal, OUT! CAUGHT! Bangalore normally have had a very good start in the Powerplay this season. Not this time. Full ball, little bit slower, on off. Padikkal is early on the shot, looks to drive but is early. Ends up lobbing a simple catch to Pooran at cover. |
| 0.0 : Virat Kohli walks out to bat at No. 3. |
| 4.2 : Arshdeep Singh to Virat Kohli, Full ball around off, Kohli drives it through cover and takes a quick single to get off the mark. |
| 4.3 : Arshdeep Singh to Aaron Finch, Full and outside off, slightly on the slower side as well, Finch waits and then cuts it to deep point and takes one. |
| 4.4 : Arshdeep Singh to Virat Kohli, FOUR! What a shot that was. Full and well outside off, Kohli leans in and a signature cover drive from him through the covers for a boundary. |
| 4.5 : Arshdeep Singh to Virat Kohli, Full on the pads, Kohli flicks it to the right of Hooda at deep square leg. Hooda gets across there, dives and looks to contain it. Hooda by the initial looks seems to have cut it off but on the second attempt his leg seems to have brushed the boundary line. The umpires after having closely examined it signal a boundary. |
| 4.4 : A fumble by Hooda. Is that a boundary? Too close to the ropes he is. The umpires are having a look. Signalled a boundary then. |
| 4.6 : Arshdeep Singh to Virat Kohli, A single as this is wristed on the leg side for a quick one. |
| Ravi Bishnoi into the attack now. |
| 5.1 : Ravi Bishnoi to Virat Kohli, Floated around off and middle, kept out. |
| 5.2 : Ravi Bishnoi to Virat Kohli, Floated around off, bunted down to long on for a single. |
| 5.3 : Ravi Bishnoi to Aaron Finch, Finch comes down the track to the fuller one. Gets it on the pads. It goes to the on side and a leg bye is taken. |
| 5.4 : Ravi Bishnoi to Virat Kohli, FOUR! Kohli wants to get a move on, he has played a couple of shots that indicate that. Fullish ball on off, Kohli wrists it to the right of the man at short fine leg and gets a boundary. |
| 5.5 : Ravi Bishnoi to Virat Kohli, WIDE! Full and well outside off, past the tramline. Kohli lets it be. |
| Ravi Bishnoi to Virat Kohli, A single. Flatter ball on middle and leg, placed on the leg side for a single. |
| 5.6 : Ravi Bishnoi to Aaron Finch, A dot to end the Powerplay. Fullish on off, Finch goes back and taps it to point for a dot. 57/1 are Bangalore at the end of the Powerplay. |
| 6.1 : Murugan Ashwin to Virat Kohli, Outside off, punched through point for a single. |
| 0.0 : Murugan Ashwin is into the attack now. |
| 6.2 : Murugan Ashwin to Aaron Finch, EDGED AND FOUR! Definitely a bat's knick there. Flatter and outside off, Finch goes back and looks to drive but gets an outside edge. It flies in the gap between the keeper and the slip fielder and races away for a boundary. Agonising for Punjab. |
| 6.3 : Murugan Ashwin to Aaron Finch, OUT! TIMBER! Murugan Ashwin gets the wicket. Bangalore lose their second, after the Powerplay. Flatter ball on off and middle, quicker as well. Finch goes back and looks to play at it but misses. The ball crashes into the woodwork behind. |
| Washington Sundar walks out to bat now. |
| 6.4 : Murugan Ashwin to Washington Sundar, Outside off, Sundar cuts but finds point. |
| 6.5 : Murugan Ashwin to Washington Sundar, On the shorter side on off, kept out on the off side. |
| 6.6 : Murugan Ashwin to Washington Sundar, Tossed up around off, Sundar rocks back and cuts this to deep point and takes a single. |
| 7.1 : Glenn Maxwell to Washington Sundar, Good running! Floated on middle and leg, Sundar whips it towards cow corner and they take two. |
| 7.2 : Glenn Maxwell to Washington Sundar, Tossed up on leg, Sundar whips it to deep mid-wicket and gets a run. |
| 7.3 : Glenn Maxwell to Virat Kohli, Short ball around off, Kohli tucks this one to the square leg region for one. |
| 7.4 : Glenn Maxwell to Washington Sundar, Another one that stuck onto the surface. Short on off, just like Padikkal, Sundar too checks his shot. Washington Sundar though is lucky as this one falls just short of Maxwell. |
| 7.5 : Glenn Maxwell to Washington Sundar, This time milks it to long off for one. |
| 7.6 : Glenn Maxwell to Virat Kohli, Short on middle, Kohli punches it to mid-wicket and keeps the strike. |
| 8.1 : Murugan Ashwin to Virat Kohli, Floated outside off, driven to deep extra cover for a couple. |
| 8.2 : Murugan Ashwin to Virat Kohli, Full outside off, Kohli swipes across the line but finds the man at short mid-wicket. |
| 8.3 : Murugan Ashwin to Virat Kohli, Flatter on middle and leg, bunted down to long on for a single. |
| 8.4 : Murugan Ashwin to Washington Sundar, On the shorter side on off, Sundar taps it behind square on the leg side and takes one. |
| 8.5 : Murugan Ashwin to Virat Kohli, Fuller and around off, driven to long on for one. |
| 8.6 : Murugan Ashwin to Washington Sundar, Flat legbreak, outside off, dabbed to the off side for a single. |
| DRINKS! 2 wickets Bangalore have lost - both the openers are back in the hut. Kohli and Sundar are at the crease. Saving de Villiers for the late middle and death overs are Bangalore. Kohli for now is taking the quick 1s and 2s and Sundar is content knocking it around as well. Will be interesting to see when these two plan to launch. Setting a platform for de Villiers, yes! |
| 9.1 : Glenn Maxwell to Washington Sundar, Fuller on the pads, helped to deep square leg for a single. |
| 9.2 : Glenn Maxwell to Virat Kohli, Flatter around off, Kohli rocks back and taps this towards long on for one. |
| 9.3 : Glenn Maxwell to Washington Sundar, FOUR! Would have been a wide had he left that though. Flatter, down the leg side, Sundar decides to go after it though. Stretches and hits it to the fine leg fence. |
| 9.4 : Glenn Maxwell to Washington Sundar, Full on off, leans and pushes it back to the bowler. |
| 9.5 : Glenn Maxwell to Washington Sundar, Full on off, driven to long off for a single. |
| 9.6 : Glenn Maxwell to Virat Kohli, Another single and Bangalore are 83/2 at the end of 10 overs. On leg, Kohli taps this behind square on the leg side and takes one. |
| 10.1 : Murugan Ashwin to Virat Kohli, Full and outside off, driven to deep cover and Kohli wants a couple, gets it. |
| 10.2 : Murugan Ashwin to Virat Kohli, This time he drives it straight to Jordan at wide long off. Just the single. |
| 10.3 : Murugan Ashwin to Washington Sundar, OUT! CAUGHT! This one tests Jordan's hands. Jordan was upto the task, takes it with good hands. Floated googly around off, Sundar does not pick it. Lets out a no-look slog sweep but gets it high in the air, towards wide long on. Jordan there, keeps his eyes on the ball, takes it with a tumble backwards. |
| 10.4 : Murugan Ashwin to Virat Kohli, Around off, fuller, driven to long on for a single. |
| 10.3 : Shivam Dube walks out to bat now, at No. 5. |
| 10.5 : Murugan Ashwin to Shivam Dube, Outside off, Dube looks to guide it on the off side but misses completely. |
| 10.6 : Murugan Ashwin to Shivam Dube, Dube wrists the flatter ball to the leg side for a single. |
| 11.2 : Glenn Maxwell to Virat Kohli, Flighted on middle, Kohli rocks back and taps it towards square leg for one. |
| 11.1 : Glenn Maxwell to Shivam Dube, Floated on middle, knocked down to long on for a single. |
| 11.3 : Glenn Maxwell to Shivam Dube, A stifled appeal for LBW but probably some bat involved here. Full on leg, Dube looks to work it on the leg side but misses to get hit on the pads. Maxwell appeals but to no avail. |
| 11.4 : Glenn Maxwell to Shivam Dube, On leg, worked towards fine leg for a couple. |
| 11.5 : Glenn Maxwell to Shivam Dube, On the shorter side on middle and leg, Dube taps it on the on side and takes a single. |
| 11.6 : Glenn Maxwell to Virat Kohli, Another single to close the over. Full and around off, bunted down to long on by Kohli for one. |
| 12.1 : Ravi Bishnoi to Virat Kohli, On middle, helped to fine leg for a single. |
| 0.0 : Ravi Bishnoi is back in the attack. 1-0-7-0 so far. |
| 12.2 : Ravi Bishnoi to Shivam Dube, Flatter ball on off, knocked to the on side for a dot. |
| 12.3 : Ravi Bishnoi to Shivam Dube, Short and outside off, cut to deep point for a single. |
| 12.5 : Ravi Bishnoi to Virat Kohli, On middle, clipped to the leg side for a single. |
| 12.4 : Ravi Bishnoi to Virat Kohli, Flighted outside off, Kohli leans in and drives. Agarwal at cover fields it well. Excellent from him. Keeps Kohli quiet. A dot. A diving stop from Agarwal there. |
| 12.6 : Ravi Bishnoi to Shivam Dube, Not a wide. Dube though is not happy. Flat and well outside off, Dube looks to cut but misses. He looks to the umpire hoping that it will be signalled a wide but it was not to be. Within the tramline, reckon the umpires. |
| Chris Jordan into the attack now. |
| 13.1 : Chris Jordan to Virat Kohli, Full and outside off, driven to extra cover for a single. |
| 13.2 : Chris Jordan to Shivam Dube, WIDE! Good length ball but down the leg side from around the wicket, Dube lets it be. Wided. |
| Chris Jordan to Shivam Dube, Fullish on middle, placed towards long on for a single. Kohli wants two but there is just the single on this occasion. |
| 13.3 : Chris Jordan to Virat Kohli, Good length ball around off, driven towards cover-point for a single. |
| 13.4 : Chris Jordan to Shivam Dube, On a good length on middle and leg, Dube flicks but finds Gayle at short mid-wicket. |
| 13.5 : Chris Jordan to Shivam Dube, On a length on top of off, hit to deep extra cover for a single. |
| 13.6 : Chris Jordan to Virat Kohli, Very full on middle, Kohli gets it off the inner half after deflecting off his boot towards the off side for a single. |
| 14.1 : Ravi Bishnoi to Virat Kohli, Full around off, tapped to the leg side for a single. |
| 14.2 : Ravi Bishnoi to Shivam Dube, SIX! WHOA! Short ball on off, Dube goes back and pulls it over long on for a maximum. |
| 0.0 : DRINKS! Bangalore after a very good start have taken the foot off the gas. The ploy to send two left-handers in Washington Sundar and Shivam Dube has so far not worked out. That though can turn around if Shivam Dube can get going. KL Rahul, on the other hand, will be happy with how his spinners have fared. Who will dominate the final 6? |
| 14.3 : Ravi Bishnoi to Shivam Dube, SIX! Back-to-back sixes for Shivam Dube. Full on middle, Dube whacks it over mid-wicket this time. |
| 14.4 : Ravi Bishnoi to Shivam Dube, WIDE! Quicker one but down the leg side, Dube lets it be. Rahul misses it and a run is sneaked in by the batters as well. |
| Ravi Bishnoi to Virat Kohli, A quick run. Full and around off, driven to point. Kohli takes a quick single. |
| 14.5 : Ravi Bishnoi to Shivam Dube, On the shorter side outside off, Dube chops it towards cover off the back foot and takes a single. |
| 14.6 : Ravi Bishnoi to Virat Kohli, A couple to finish the over, 19 overall from the over. Full on middle, Kohli looks to heave on the leg side but mistimes it through the carpet, to deep square leg. Takes a couple. |
| 15.1 : Chris Jordan to Shivam Dube, Dropped? No falls just short. Outside off on a good length, Dube hits it uppishly towards long off, to his right. Maxwell runs there but it falls just short, on a bounce, to him. He collects and throws at the non-striker's end where Kohli had strayed out. Had Maxwell hit there, Kohli would have been out. |
| 15.2 : Chris Jordan to Shivam Dube, Dube lofts the good length ball over point and takes a single. |
| 15.3 : Chris Jordan to Virat Kohli, A single as Kohli looks to glance but gets an inside edge onto his boots. It goes to the off side and a quick run is taken. |
| 15.4 : Chris Jordan to Shivam Dube, Shivam Dube works this on the leg side for a single. |
| 15.5 : Chris Jordan to Virat Kohli, WIDE! Good length ball but down the leg side, Kohli looks to play at it but misses. |
| Chris Jordan to Virat Kohli, LEG BYE! Full and on the pads, Kohli looks to flick but misses. It comes off his pads to the off side and a leg bye is taken. |
| 15.6 : Chris Jordan to Shivam Dube, OUT! CAUGHT! Jordan gets his first wicket in the tournament. This is the Chris Jordan we all know. Short ball, outside off, Dube looks to pull but gets a top edge. It goes to where short fine leg would have been. KL Rahul himself runs there and pouches it. |
| 16.1 : Murugan Ashwin to AB de Villiers, AB de Villiers is off the mark! Floated on off, de Villiers stretches and hits uppishly through cover for one. |
| 16.2 : Murugan Ashwin to Virat Kohli, Tossed up on off, Kohli milks it through covers for one. |
| 0.0 : Finally, AB de Villiers walks out to bat now. Also, Murugan Ashwin is back in the attack. |
| 16.3 : Murugan Ashwin to AB de Villiers, Short on off, de Villiers punches it to the right of Murugan who does well to stop runs. |
| 16.4 : Murugan Ashwin to AB de Villiers, Another short one, this time AB punches it to long on and rotates the strike. |
| 16.5 : Murugan Ashwin to Virat Kohli, Tossed up googly around off, Kohli looks to play a big sweep towards mid-wicket but gets an inside edge which goes fine of fine leg. Two taken! |
| 16.6 : Murugan Ashwin to Virat Kohli, Another good over from Punjab! Excellent day at the office for Murugan. He finishes with 2/23 from his 4, brilliant. Loopy ball on off, Kohli milks it to the off side and keeps the strike. |
| 17.1 : Mohammed Shami to Virat Kohli, Full around off, Kohli hits it across the line to deep mid-wicket for one. |
| 17.2 : Mohammed Shami to AB de Villiers, Very well bowled by Shami! Slower ball on a length outside off, de Villiers swings but gets deceived by the slowness of this delivery and misses. |
| 17.3 : Mohammed Shami to AB de Villiers, OUT! Caught! Shami strikes and this is a big wicket for Punjab! This might as well make a difference of 15-20 runs in the total. A very full ball on off, de Villiers looks to smoke it over long off but he hits it off the lower half of his bat. It goes high in the air and just about goes past the 30-yard circle. Deepak Hooda settles under it and takes a simple catch. He is a good fielder and was never going to drop this. |
| 17.4 : Mohammed Shami to Virat Kohli, Around off, Kohli drives it wide of sweeper cover and gets a couple. |
| 17.5 : Mohammed Shami to Virat Kohli, OUT! Caught! This over might as well be the game changing over in this game. First de Villiers and now Kohli, Shami has given his skipper what he would have dreamed of. A very well-disguised slower short ball around the body. Kohli looks to pull but he is way too early in his stroke. The ball hits the back part of his bat and lobs to the front and right of the keeper. Rahul runs in and dives to take a stunning catch. |
| Who will walk out next? It is Udana. |
| 17.3 : Who will walk out next? Morris or Udana? Morris it is. |
| 17.6 : Mohammed Shami to Isuru Udana, Short ball around the body, Udana pulls it towards square leg and keeps the strike. Fantastic over from Shami. Just 4 runs and two massive wickets off it. |
| 18.1 : Chris Jordan to Isuru Udana, Good length ball on off, Udana taps it towards cover and gets a single. |
| 18.2 : Chris Jordan to Chris Morris, Another single. Punjab strangling Bangalore here with some fantastic death bowling. Good length ball on off, Morris plays it to mid off for one. |
| 18.3 : Chris Jordan to Isuru Udana, Shortish ball, Udana pulls it to long on and rotates the strike. |
| 18.4 : Chris Jordan to Chris Morris, SIX! Much needed for Bangalore! Short and wide outside off, Morris does not power hit but hits it well enough to send it over the short side of the ground, over point for a biggie. |
| 18.5 : Chris Jordan to Chris Morris, Good smart comeback from Jordan. He sees Morris move away from his stumps so he bowls a yorker wide outside off. Morris is too far away and does not hit. |
| 18.6 : Chris Jordan to Chris Morris, Single to end the over! 10 off it. Not bad from CJ! On middle and leg, Morris milks it to long on and keeps the strike. A very good day at the office for Jordan as well. Does not finish his full quota of 4 but has done pretty well in his 3 overs! |
| 19.1 : Mohammed Shami to Chris Morris, FOUR! Brilliant execution and just the start Bangalore needed to the final over. A yorker on middle and off, Morris moves inside his stumps and scoops it over short fine leg for a boundary. |
| 19.2 : Mohammed Shami to Chris Morris, Full on the pads, Morris whips it over square leg but gets just a single. |
| 19.3 : Mohammed Shami to Isuru Udana, SIX! Smashed! That is brilliant from Udana! Short ball on middle, Udana smashes his pull well over the mid-wicket fence for a biggie. 11 off the first half of the final over. |
| 19.4 : Mohammed Shami to Isuru Udana, In the air but safe! Low full toss on off, Udana chips it wide of the diving cover fielder and gets a single. |
| 19.5 : Mohammed Shami to Chris Morris, SIX! Another poor final over from Punjab! 18 off the over so far. Knuckle ball on off, Morris gets under it and smashes it over the long off fence for another biggie. Second of the over. |
| 19.6 : Mohammed Shami to Chris Morris, SIX! BOOM! Morris finishes the innings in style. Massive final over for Bangalore. 24 coming off the final one. Full on middle and leg, Morris heaves it over mid-wicket. There is a man in the deep but he sees the ball just go over him for a biggie. Supreme finish for Bangalore. BANGALORE FINISH WITH 171/6! |
| Bangalore finish in style. A good total, one they were looking for as well. A cracking finish to say the least. Morris has done an excellent job, an unbeaten 25 from 8 balls towards the end. |
| Bangalore who have normally been exceptional during the Powerplay with the bat, were not so this time. They got off to a good start, courtesy the dimensions at Sharjah as well but lost Padikkal in the 5th over. Finch was coming down the track often but made little impact. He fell in the next over after the Powerplay. |
| At 62/2, one would have been expecting de Villiers but Washington Sundar strode out to bat. Surprising. But anyway, the move did not pay off with Sundar departing after making 13 from 14 balls. Right, de Villiers now? No, Shivam Dube. Hmm...perhaps Bangalore are saving de Villiers for the death overs? Anyway, the partnership between Kohli and Dube was for 43 before Dube fell after hitting a good couple of sixes earlier. |
| Finally, in walked AB de Villiers. But...the impact was very minimal. He made just two. Shocking, disappointing and all that you can think of. And even more of a shocker, Kohli fell, 2 balls later, 2 runs shy of his half ton. Well, Rahul's side would have curtailed a good deal of runs with that, right? On the face of it, yes. But Chris Morris had other plans. A blitzkrieg towards the end and he saw Bangalore just over 170, something Bangalore can well fancy to defend. |
| Punjab's bowling was on the mark overall, but slipped into oblivion towards the end. 34 runs in the last 2 overs after having gotten de Villiers and Kohli earlier on, not good from Rahul's team. Shami and Ashwin got 2 wickets each but the former was extremely expensive while the latter was exceptional, with an economy rate under 6. Jordan bowled well and snared a wicket. Arshdeep was on the expensive side in his two overs while bagging a wicket. Disciplined but torn apart towards the end. |
| Murugan Ashwin is down for a chat. He states that Punjab allowed Bangalore a bit free towards the end. Adds that he wants to bowl well and help his team win as much as possible. States that he is bowling a lot of googlies this time around. |
| Right then, Bangalore have something to bowl at and would be backing themselves. So too would Punjab, the reason, you ask? The Universe Boss is in the team. That should make the chase an exciting one. Stay tuned as the chase dawns shortly... |
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